The Rev. Ed Schneider: Romney vs. Obama: The great debate continues

Thursday

Apr 19, 2012 at 12:01 AMApr 19, 2012 at 6:16 PM

Unlike many general elections, the 2012 presidential decision cycle will clearly help to define how the United States of America foundationally identifies itself and then commits to wholly becoming for the next couple of generations.

The Rev. Ed Schneider

Unlike many general elections, the 2012 presidential decision cycle will clearly help to define how the United States of America foundationally identifies itself and then commits to wholly becoming for the next couple of generations.

Before I get into this column, I must first establish a few disclaimers regarding my particular patterns of support for public political figures and governmental policies. I have voted for Republicans and Democrats and for the most part felt very comfortable with the decisions I have rendered regardless of whether they have won or lost their local, state or national campaigns. I have supported an ethnically diverse pool of candidates, as well as both Christian and non-Christian alike. As a pastor with a public pulpit, I guard my private voting decisions, while openly, and I pray authentically, articulating what all sides represent. Even though as a preacher I do not try and persuade any particular political leaning, I thoroughly encourage all citizens to vote their informed conscience without regard to anyone else's influence.

Why is that important for you to know? Because, I'm about to break one of my own rules about public political pronouncements.

Leaving aside for the moment the unfortunate nonsense of election dirty tricks, attempts by both sides of character assassination of their opposition, and disingenuous public posturing, Gov. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama represent two clearly defined constructs of public policy and the practical application concerning the philosophy of American government.

Unlike many Republicans, Romney truly is an expert in large-scale entrepreneurial and corporate expressions of fundamental capitalism. Unlike many current-day Democrats, Obama is a profoundly gifted representative and devoté of governmental economic engineering and classic federalism. The general voting public couldn't be presented with a more contrasting and authentic view of the two major constructs that have influenced and practically guided American identity during the last 150 years. Regardless of what you may think of each of their particular world views, these two men will actually provide a bold and defining choice of how we Americans primarily express what it means to be American.

Both of these men are highly intelligent and gifted leaders. Both of these individuals have loving families and a strong sense of the "greater good." Both of these high-powered public figures have a history of being able to make hard decisions and standing by them -- good or bad. Both of these men have had to deal with what seemed overwhelming situations of crisis and have succeeded in resolving it. Both of them have had failures, big and small, in their public life. These are two high-quality people who love their country but in the end have two completely differing ideas of how to foundationally express it.

Even though they have more than a few differences, they have one very important thing in common - a completely ineffective and terribly faulty Congress they're going to have to deal with once they get elected. The current Congress has not passed a federal budget for the last three years, and it is absolutely idiotic to imagine anyone believing they have the will or the political skills to get it done. They have consistently passed bill after bill that no one actually reads. The federal deficits we have been enduring over the last two administrations are not only unsustainable but unconscionable. The members of our Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, lie through their collective teeth concerning wanting to work with each other and never do it. I truly feel sorry for whomever will be the next president of the United States because if Obama and Romney can't figure out how to work with and practically influence these political hacks masquerading as public servants they will get little, if anything, of consequence accomplished.

So, my suggestion to all of us would be, enjoy the drama and process of decision-making regarding our next president but if the Congress refuses to change its ways -- throw the bums out on their ear and start over. The next group couldn't possibly do any worse.

The Rev. Ed Schneider is pastor of The Rock church in Oak Ridge, Tenn., www.therockoakridge.net.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.